UFC 229 Betting: Khabib vs. McGregor Odds
UFC 229 Betting: Khabib vs. McGregor Odds
One of the most anticipated bouts in UFC history is upon us. On Saturday October 6, Conor McGregor will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon, where he’ll take on Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Two years ago, McGregor stepped away from the UFC to collect a huge payday for his boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Now he’s back to reclaim the title he once held.
While McGregor’s been away, Nurmagomedov has risen in stature, amassing an impressive 26-0 record. This is truly a bout between the best of the best. Beyond that, there’s a personal squabble that’s added to the anticipation for the fight; the bad blood between the fighters dates back to April, when McGregor attacked a bus holding Nurmagomedov among several other fighters at UFC 223.
With just one week to the mega event, we’re going to take a closer look at the UFC 229 odds, both sides of this bout, the other fight lines, and fill you in on what you need to know going into the fight.
UFC 229 Odds: Why Bet on Khabib Nurmagomedov
Nurmagomedov might be the lesser-known fighter in this bout, but he’s the–155 favourite on the Khabib vs. McGregor odds board. With a 26-0 lifetime record that includes wins in each of his 10 UFC fights, Nurmagomedov has yet to lose. That being said, he’s never really been in a situation where a fighter has pushed his boundaries. He’s been that far ahead of his competition to date.
In terms of his bout with McGregor, he’ll focus on doing exactly what McGregor struggles with: going to the ground. McGregor would love to keep this fight standing, but we know Nurmagomedov will be shooting for the legs where he excels. If he manages to get Conor down, it could be a very quick fight. For UFC 229 prop bets, Nurmagomedov Win Via Submission could be a good bet if you think he’ll be victorious.
UFC 229 Odds: Why Bet on Conor McGregor
If you’re betting on McGregor, you’re betting on the power of his fists. Even though the Khabib McGregor odds have the Irishman as the underdog, he has the type of power to end the fight with one clean punch. Nurmagomedov will have to get close to engage for takedowns, which will give McGregor an opportunity to stand back and wait for his opponent to approach him—then he’ll pick his spots. As long as McGregor avoids the takedowns, he’ll have a huge edge when the two fighters are standing.
Beyond that, there’s a serious question about who Nurmagomedov has fought to date. While McGregor has fought the best of the best, Nurmagomedov hasn’t exactly beaten superstars. His most recent wins came from Al Iaquinta, Edson Barboza and Michael Johnson. None of these guys would be considered elite like McGregor is, so this will be Nurmagomedov’s greatest test to date.
GET YOUR $200 SPORTS WELCOME BONUS
More UFC 229 Fight Lines: Online Betting Breakdown
Although everyone is waiting for the main event, there are a number of other intriguing fights on the UFC 229 betting lines. Another Lightweight bout will go down right before the main event when Tony Ferguson takes on Anthony Pettis. While the Lightweight Championship is up for grabs in the main event, Ferguson was the Lightweight champ for a long time before being stripped due to an injury. He holds the record for the most consecutive wins in the division’s history with 10. He’ll be going for No. 11 next Saturday, and the UFC 229 betting odds have him as a sizable –360 favourite.
Prior to that, we’ll see a couple of big bouts, and one is between Ovince Saint Preux and Dominick Reyes in a Light Heavyweight matchup. Reyes is a –225 favourite on the UFC 229 odds board, and Saint Preux is the underdog at +175. We’ll also see Derrick Lewis take on Alexander Volkov in the only Heavyweight fight on the main card. The UFC 229 fight odds have Volkov as a –170 favourite as we go to press. Lastly, the lone female bout on the main card is the Strawweight matchup between Michelle Waterson and Felice Herrig. Fresh off a loss, Herrig has won four of her last five fights and is a –135 favourite.
How to Bet on UFC 229: UFC Betting Explained
There are plenty of different ways for sports betting fans to get in the action for UFC 229 right now. Whether it’s picking fight winners on the moneyline, parlaying multiple fighters to win, or betting on props for the event, there are plenty of different options available. Let’s take a closer look at how the betting lines work, using the Khabib vs. McGregor UFC odds as an example.
Nurmagomedov —170
McGregor +140
The first thing to examine is whether there is a plus or minus sign in front of the odds. Nurmagomedov has a minus sign in front of the 170. The minus sign is for the favourite, and the odds indicate the amount of money you have to bet to win $100. In our example, you’d have to bet $170 on Nurmagomedov to win $100. On the other hand, the plus sign is for the underdog, as is the case for McGregor. That indicates how much you’d win if you bet $100. In McGregor’s case, you’d win $140 for every $100 you bet.
Of course, you don’t have to bet in $100 increments. This gives you an idea of how to read the odds and how to calculate how much you’ll win, but you can bet however much you want within our sportsbook’s minimum and maximums. Closer to October 6, props will be released, allowing bettors to weigh in on things like how long the bout will last, so be sure to check back often before then.
Khabib vs. McGregor Betting: What You Need to Know
Enhance your McGregor-Nurmagomedov knowledge prior to the fight with these eight fast facts.
- Nurmagomedov is a perfect 26-0 in his MMA career and 10-0 in his UFC career.
- A very balanced fighter, Nurmagomedov has eight wins via knockouts, eight via submission and 10 through decisions.
- Five of Nurmagomedov’s last seven wins came via decision.
- Nurmagomedov averages 5.4 takedowns per fight.
- McGregor successfully defends 73.9% of takedowns.
- 18 of McGregor’s 21 victories have come via knockout.
- McGregor has averaged 5.8 significant strikes per minute.
- McGregor has been taken down at least once in three of his last five fights.
Khabib-McGregor Betting Tips
When it comes to betting on the main event, McGregor has better value on the moneyline at +140 odds. The key for McGregor will be to end the fight as quickly as possible. McGregor’s manager Owen Roddy said he doesn’t think that Khabib will be able to handle McGregor’s ferocity and punching power. There is no doubt that the Irishman’s best path to victory will be via knockout in the first two rounds. After that, he becomes more vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov’s camp has talked openly about the importance of Khabib’s grappling game and his potential to wear down McGregor. The UFC Lightweight champion’s father talked about how McGregor is dangerous for eight to nine minutes, but after that, it’s a different story. That was certainly the case in McGregor’s loss to Diaz at UFC 196, when he got submitted via a rear-naked choke in the final minute of the second round. Khabib will undoubtedly try to take this fight to the mat and use his grappling to try to wear down "The Notorious". Nurmagomedov will be prepared for a long fight, with his UFC 229 odds to win likely improving the longer the clash drags on.
If you’re looking at props to bet, Nurmagomedov via submission and McGregor via knockout makes a lot of sense. However, this fight is expected to be tight as these are two of the best Lightweights we’ve ever seen go head-to-head.
*Odds as of September 28, 2018
